Medical director at Betsi Matt Makin said: “There’s a universal desire in the room for the safety of mums and babies,” but added: “The changes to maternity are not about a particular hospital and ‘certainly not’ about money.”

Recruitment issue

North Wales Health Alliance spokesman Marc Jones said: “There has been a long-standing problem of recruitment in Betsi Cadwaladr that management has failed to resolve.

“We are told that it is moving towards establishing the new neo-natal care centre in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and has started to recruit for that purpose.

“Despite that apparent success it’s pressing on with these temporary changes as a ‘short-term solution to operational and patient safety risks’.

“We are deeply concerned that the report’s authors are playing up these risks, which they themselves admit are not urgent, to drive through these ‘temporary’ changes. Similar tactics were used in Hywel Dda health board and temporary became permanent.

“My fear is that this is a cost-saving exercise to reduce the £30m deficit the board faces due to overspending on locums and temporary staff.

“There is justifiable cynicism and anger about the way the health board continues to behave. Given the professional views of midwives, nurses and doctors as well as public opinion, it’s time for the health board to start listening and stop meddling.”